The Private Automatic Branch Exchange (PABX) and Value-added Network Service (VANS) markets were opened up to competition.

However, telecommunications reform remained unaddressed at the negotiations and in 1993 the apartheid government proceeded to license two mobile cellular operators (Vodacom and MTN).

It was established as a single electronic communications regulator in the country in terms of the ICASA Act of 2000 merging SATRA with the IBA.

In August 2001, the Minister of Communications issued policy directions which were amended in April 2002, setting out the process in relation to the licensing of the SNO (Neotel) in broad terms.

[2] In 2013, the ICASA led a state-wide campaign to encourage consumers to turn in their illegally-bought cordless phones, which were responsible for clogging the telecommunication networks with improper data properties.

[9] In March 2021, the High court of Pretoria ordered the ICASA to stop the biddings on the auction of the 5G spectrum that started in October 2020, after Telkom and Etv obtained an interdict in a separate case.

In February 2000, a little less than five months before ICASA was formed, SATRA declared Cell C as a winning bidder of the third mobile cellular network operator.

NextCom, one of the losing bidders, engaged ICASA in a number of court interdicts alleging that the decision to award Cell C was not fair and was influenced by the National Executive.

In June 2001, NextCom withdrew from a judicial review that was ordered by the High Court allowing Cell C to continue its operations.

[16] The listing and unbundling of Vodacom shares raised a number of questions regarding the role and independence of ICASA as the sector regulator.

This was not well received by the Trade Union, COSATU, which challenged the decision made by ICASA to clear the Vodacom share transaction.

This transaction resulted in ICASA's independence status being questioned as it was influenced by COSATU to rescind its initial decision allowing Vodacom to unbundle its shares.